Automobile transmission mechanism.



A. A P. NEEL.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18,1914.

Lml Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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ALLEN A. r. NnEL, or MARSHALL, VIRGINIA, AssIeNon or oNnaIALr To THOMAS HENDERSON MADDUX, or MARSHALL, VIRGINIA.

AUTOIVIOBIIT; TRANSMISSION MCHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 5, 1915.

Application led May 16, 1914. Serial No. 839,039.

To all 107mm t may concern f Be it known that I, ALLEN A. P. NEEL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshall, in the county of Fauquier and ai, Stato of Virginia, have 'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automo,

bile Transmission Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to speed changing devices and has for its object the production of an e'liicient means for` changing the speed of the driving mechanism of a vehicle such as an automobile or the like.

The principal objects of the invention are the production of a `simple and lefficient mechanism for the variation of speed Without the usual shifting of gears, and for controlling the change of speed from 'the steer- .ing wheel of the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following speciiication and claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the speed changing mechanism and the transmission casing,.a portion4 of the body of the vehicle being shown in section. i Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the transmission casing showing the cover plate removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the transmission casing in top plan, the gears being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through the' transmission casing showing the driving gears in elevation. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the construction of the several gears which are adapted to coperate for throwing the speed changing levers. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the quadrant adapted to be secured to the" steering wheel.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that 1 designates the body of the vehicle through which extends the usual steering shaft 2 which carries the steering wheel 8. A quadrant frame 4 is secured to the steering shaft 2, and this quadrant frame comprises a plurality of radiating arms 5, which arms support the substantially parallel spaced arms 6 arranged on the arc of operating handle 8 as will be clearly herelnafter described. 'The vlower arms 6 are also provided with notches 9 upon their upper face for also receiving .the operating' handle 8 when the same is 1n engagement with the lower arms 6. One of the upper arms 6 is provided with the pocket portion 10 adjacent the centrally located notch 11 vas illustrated in Fig. 6 for the purpose of `allowing the handle 8 to be placed therein land be held in a neutral position as will be more clearly hereinafter described. Y

An operating shaft 12 is supported upon a. bracket 13 as is clearly lillustrated in Fig. 1, and this shaft 12 carries a spring 14 which bears against the collar 15 carried near the lower end thereof for normally urging a downward pressure upon the shaft 12. A gear 16 is carried by the lowerend of the shaft 12 as illustrated'in Fig. 1, and this gear is adapted to be thrown'into engagement with the gear fingers 17 supported upon a depending shaft 18 carried by a hanger bracket 19.

A transmission casing 19 is suspended below the face of the vehicle 1 upon brackets 2O as is illustrated in Fig. 1, and this transmission casing 19' carries the usual counter-shaft 21 upon which is mounted the direct-driving gear 22 and a plurality of gears 23 of different size for meshing with the varying speed gears 24 and 25 carried by the main driving shaft 26. A reverse gear 27 is also carried by the counter-shaft 21 and engages an intermediate pinion 28, which pinion engages the reverse driving gear 29, which driving gear 29 is loosely mounted upon the main driving shaft 26.

The main driving shaft 26 is supported upon a standard 30, and this shaft 26 is formed in a plurality of sections as illustrated in Fig. 3 for the purpose of facilitating the placing of the gears 24, 25 and 29 thereon. A sleeve 31 is carried by the standard 30, and this sleeve is provided with bearings 32 at its respective ends for the purpose of relieving the respective gears 24 and 25. A bearing 33 is also employed at the rear end ofthe mainv driving shaft 26 for the purpose of constituting a support or bearing for the reverse driving gear 29.

The shaft 26 is provided with a plurality of square portions 34 and 35 upon which are slidably mounted the clutches 36. The for- Ward clutch 36 is engaged by means of the forward clutch operating` lever 37, whereas the rear clutch member 36 1s engaged by transmission casing 19 by means vof the pivotal .supports 39 as is illustrated in The transmission casing 1 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 40, and within these slots are placed springs `41 upon opposite sides of the levers 37 and 38 to normally hold the levers in a neutral po sition. It should be understood, however, that these 4springs may be placed in any desired position for the purpose of obtaining the desired result.

The forward clutch operating lever 37 is connected to the upper gear nger 17 by means of the longitudinally extending rod 42, whereas the rear clutch operatingr lever 38 is connected tothe lower gear finger 17 by means of the connecting rod '43. It should be l understood that the main driving shaft 26 is connected to the driving engine by means of the usual driving rod and connection 44 illustrated and 2.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operation .of the device is as follows The clutches 36 will be normally in a neutral position as is illustrated in Fig. 4 when the handle 8 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 or within the notch 10 of the quadrant 4. When, however, the handle 8 is clearly in Figs. 1

swung out of the notch,10. and lifted so as to travel upon the upper arm 6 of the quadrant 4 and engage the notch-9 at the right of the notch 11,.the shaft 12 will be rotated after lirst having been lifted to` bring the gear 16 into engagement with the upper gear` finger 17. l/Vhen the shaft 12 is rotated toward the right, the connecting rod 42 will pull the clutch throwing lever 37 forwardly and throw the clutch 36 into engagement with the set-in clutch teeth 45 formed upon the direct driving gear 46 carried bythe main driving shaft 26. If, however, the handle 8 is swung toward the left so 'as to engage the notch 9 to the left of the notch 11, the clutch 36 will beymoved so as to engage the clutch teeth formed upon the second speed gear 25. If it is desired to cause 'the transmission to operate under the third speed gear 24, the handle 8 may beV swung down -through the notch 11 and swung toward the rightto engage the right hand notch 9 in the lower arm 6, thereby..

causing the clutch/36 to engage the clutch teeth formed upon the face of the third speed drive gear 24. If, however, it is desired to cause the machine to travel in the reverse direction, the handle 8 is swung so as to engage the left hand lower notch 9, thereby throwing the clutch 36 into engage- ,out of the automobile.

hasbeen obtained by applicants device in eliminating this lever which is generally.-

placed upon the side of the car or in the center thereof for the reason that by placing the operating mechanism Aunder the steering wheel, the entire operating mechanism will be right at the hand of the operator and Will also be out of the way to allow. the. operator to readily get into and It should be further understood that by means of the present device it is notlilely to cause a stripping of the teeth upon the respective drive gears as would be the case with the ordinary reciprocating tooth gear nowcommonly in use.

Having thus described the inventit -1 what is claimed as new, is

1. Ay device of the class described comprising a transmission mechanism, a speed changing device coperating with said transmission mechanism, a quadrant adapted to be carried adjacent the steering wheel of a vehicle, an' operating shaft coperating with said quadrant for actuating said means for normally urging a downward pressure upon said shaft for holding said handle within said notches.

2. A device of the class described comprising a transmission mechanism, a speedchanging device coperating with said transmission mechanism, a quadrant adapted to be carried adjacent the steering wheel of a vehicle, an operating shaft coperating with said quadrant for actuating said speed changing device, said quadrant provided witha plurality of spaced arms arranged on an arc of a circle, one of said arms provided with a -substantially `L-shaped depending tongue constituting a neutral lever receiving pocket, a lever connected to said shaft and adapted to normally it'in said pocket, one of said arms provided with spaced notches It should be understood that a great advantage with a plurality of spaced arms arrangedr 'upon an arc of a circle, one of said arms provided with a neutral notch, a handle connected to said shaft and adapted to normally fit Within said neutral notch,- both of said .arms provided with notches formed upon the upper face. thereof, said handle adapted to be swung upon said arms and engage one of said notches in one of-said arms for holding vsaid shaft in a locked position,

and means for normally urging a downward pressure upon said shaft for holding said handle within said notches.

4. A transmission mechanism of the class` described comprising a transmission casing, a main drive shaft, a countershaft', a plurality of varying speed gears carried thereby, a reverse gear carried by said casing, aplurality of varying speed drive gears loosely mountedupon said main drive shaft, a supporting standard engaging said main drive shaft placed intermediate the ends of said casing, bearings vsupported upon said standards and adapted to engage some of said varying speed drive gears, clutch members slidably mounted uponrsaid main drive shaft and rotating therewith, pivotally mounted levers carried by the bottom of said casing and projecting through the top,

of said casing for facilitating the throwing of said clutch members into and out of engagement with said varying speed drive' gears, and means for actuating said levers.

5. A transmission mechanism of the class described comprising a transmission casing, a main drive shaft, a countershaft, a plurality of varying speed gears carried thereby, a reverse gear carried by saidcasing, a plurahty of varying speed drive gears loosely mounted upon said main drive shaft, a supporting standard engaging said main i drive shaft placed intermediate the ends of said casing, bearings supported upon said standards and adapted to enga e some ofV said varying speed drive gears, c utch members slidably mounted upon said main drive shaft and rotating therewith, pivotally mounted levers carried by the bottom of said casing and projecting through the top of said casing for facilitating the throwing of said clutch members into and out of engagement with said varying speed drive gears, said casing provided with apertures formed therein, said levers projecting through said apertures, equalizing springs mounted within said apertures and engagingA said levers for normally holding the same in a neutral position, and means for facilitating. the actuation of said levers.

' 6. A transmission mechanism' of the class described comprising a transmission casing, a main'drive shaft, a countershaft, a plurality of varying speed gears carried thereby, a reverse gear carried by said casing, a plurality of varying speed drive gears loosely mounted upon said main drive shaft, a supporting standard engaging said main drive shaft placed intermediate the ends of said casing, bearings supported upon said standards and adapted to engage some of said varying speed drive gears, clutch members slidably mounted upon said main drive shaft and` rotating therewith,l pivotally mounted levers carried by the bottom of said casing and projecting through said casing for facilitating the throwing of said clutch members into and out of engagement with said varying speed drive gears, said casing provided with apertures formedtherein,

. said levers projecting through said apertures, equalizin g springs mounted within said apertures and engaging said levers for normally holding the same in a neutral position, links connected to said levers, gear fingers connected to said links, an operating shaft, a gear carried by said operating'shaft, said gear adapted to enga e said vgear fingers for operating said lin and throwing said levers, and means for normally holding said gear out of engagement with either of said gear fingers, whereby said springs will be allowed to normally hold said levers in a neutral position.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALLEN A. P. NEEL.

Witnesses:

T. H. MADDUX, H. S. GRooM. 

